Bottle cap



P 1969 J. N. JULIUS 3,441,162

BOTTLE CAP Filed Nov. '7, 1966 INVENTOR JOHN N. JULIUS WKM United States Patent U.S. Cl. 215-46 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention discloses a crown type cap for a bottle. The cap is made of a flat top and has a crimped skirt adapted to receive the mouth of a bottle. The skirt has a beading wherein the skirt defines a groove to receive the rim of the bottle and the skirt terminates in an upwardly turned edge which terminates in an outer upward edge substantially flush with the top. The skirt extends downward then outward then upward and terminates in an upwardly extending flange having an upwardly facing edge so that a person can engage this skirt with his thumb without injury to his thumb. The cap has a second beading that defines a second groove adapted to engage the rim of a bottle when the cap is partially removed so that the cap is prevented from parting from the bottle while gas under pressure in the bottle is vented.

This invention relates to bottle caps and more particularly to the type of bottle cap commonly known as a crown cap, such as used by the beverage industry, or any application where such caps are used on containers for liquid, dry gas, or any combination thereof.

The cap, according to the invention, comprises a full skirt crown that can be removed or taken 01f the bottle or container without the necessity of using an opener. The crown has a skirt extending entirely around it. The skirt curves at the base and extends upwardly and terminates almost in line with the top of the cap. The edges of the skirt are thus away from the position at which pressure would be applied to it by the fingers of the operator during opening. Since in opening the pressure is applied at the base of the crown, a leverage is applied to the cap which allows easier removal of the crown without resorting to openers or other mechanical contrivances.

The cap can be made of any suitable material; for example, metal, such as the conventional crown cap. It can be made from a lighter gauge material or metal than conventional crowns or caps because of its shape, thus, the cost will not be as high as conventional caps. The shape of the crown results in more positive sealing even when a lighter gauge material is used. The liner in the crown or cap may be cork or any other suitable substance, which will result in satisfactory sealing and will prevent splintering if used on a glass or other material. The crown can be opened by the application of pressure by the thumb of the' operator and without any opening tools. Secondary projections are formed in the walls of the cap to allow gas to vent when opening to protect the user from the cap being blown when the cap is opened on a bottle containing gas under considerable pressure.

In the cap disclosed herein, the cap according to the invention is so designed that it resembles an ordinary crown cap when viewed from the side. The corrugations on the crown are so designed to allow or cause the crown or cap to be loosened when pressure is exerted at the bottom of the crown. The crown is so designed that when the removal of the crown is desired, a sufficient amount of pressure applied at the base causes the crown to lift, at which point a series of projections or tabs incorporated in the skirt in the crown design prevent the crown from lifting or flying off the container until the 3,441,162 Patented Apr. 29, 1969 "ice gas escapes. Further pressure will then complete the removal of the crown. The liner of the crown is so designed as to encompass the top lip of the bottle or container, so as to protect or cushion the outer portions of the bottle and prevent chipping. The crown is flared outward at the bottom so that during application to the bottle or container the skirt is caused to embrace a rounded rib at the top of the bottle or container by a die, so the crown grips the container. To remove the crown all that is necessary is to exert a suflicient amount of pressure at the base of the crown, and the crown will be easily removed. Since the crown springs away a sufficient amount to afford removal, and does not get distorted during the process. It can be used for recapping the container if so desired. The cap is arched at the base of the skirt to allow suflicient room for the capping die. This cap is oifset cost-wise, because a lighter material can be used in this cap than in conventional crown caps. This cap can be made of plastic without any corrugations and used for a cover on containers that have other type crowns. The gasket or liner can be made in either a composition of plastic or cork. corrugations being made are in a vertical or downward direction on the skirt, and these corrugations define crests and indentations or grooves, and arch or curve upward toward the top of the crown. The top edge of the skirt arches up and extends to a point below the top of the crown, so that no sharp edges are in a position to cut or otherwise cause injury to a person in the process of recapping. The design of the crown is engineered so that any tendency of the crown or cap to loosen when handled is eliminated because of the full skirt adding to its holding grip upon the bottle neck or container.

It is, accordingly, an object of the invention to provide an improved crown type bottle cap.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved bottle cap in combination with a bottle wherein the full skirt continues completely around the crown.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved bottle cap which can be opened without the use of tools and with complete safety to the operator.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cap that is simple in construction, economical to manufacture, and simple and efficient to use.

With the above and other objects in view, the present invention consists of the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the form, size, proportions, and minor details of construction without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the bottle cap according to the invention shown on a bottle;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of the cap shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a side view of the cap and bottle neck.

Now with more particular reference to the drawings, the cap is made generally in the form of a crown type configuration having a generally flat top 16 and crimped skirt portion 17. Beading 18 is provided to bring the skirt of the cap down around the annular rim of the bottle neck. An outwardly directed flange 25 is curved downwardly and then gently upwardly around the entire periphery of the bottle cap and this forms a base for the thumb of the operator to rest on, as in FIG. 3. A suitable sealing disk 27 will be provided in the cap.

Since the skirt extends the entire distance around the cap, it reinforces the cap and makes it possible to make it from a lighter gauge material than the usual type of crown cap.

The liner is designed to encompass the bottle lip so as to cushion it and protect it against shocks and blows to the cap, and thus prevent chipping. The cap skirt is flared inward at 30, so that it embraces the rim of the bottle. A second outward flare is formed at 31 below flare 30, which will engage the rim of the bottle during opening, when the cap is moved from sealed position. Thus, the gas under pressure can vent out as the cap is held from popping oif by flared portion 31.

The foregoing specification sets forth the invention in its preferred practical forms, but the structure shown is capable of modification Within a range of equivalents without departing from the invention.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A bottle cap comprising a generally flat top,

a crimped skirt portion adapted to receive the mouth of a bottle,

said skirt portion having beading wherein the skirt defines a groove to receive the rim of a bottle,

said skirt terminating in an upwardly turned edge which has an outer upward edge substantially flush with said top,

said skirt extending downward, then outward, then upward, and terminating in an upwardly extending flange having an upwardly facing edge,

said skirt being adapted to be engaged on its lower side by the thumb of a person.

2. The cap recited in claim 1 in combination with a bottle,

said bottle having an annular rim around its mouth,

said skirt having a portion underlying said rim.

3. The cap recited in claim 1 wherein said cap has a second beading defining a second groove adapted to engage said rim of said bottle when said cap is partially removed, whereby said cap is prevented from parting from said bottle while gas under pressure in said bottle is vented.

4. The cap recited in claim 1 wherein said beading defines an upwardly facing shoulder adapted to engage the underside of said rim of said bottle.

5. The cap recited in claim 1 wherein said cap is made from thin sheet material formed into cup shape with the edges thereof formed into corrugations and a first shoulder formed around the inner periphery of said cap and adapted to underlie the rim of a bottle,

and a second shoulder formed around said inner periphery of said cap and spaced outward from said first shoulder and adapted to engage said rim of said bottle when said cap is partly open whereby said cap is restrained from removal from said bottle.

6. The cap recited in claim 5 wherein said cap is supported on a bottle,

and said bottle has a single said rim thereon,

and said first shoulder underlies said rim.

7. A crown type cap for use with a bottle having a rim with a downwardly facing peripheral shoulder,

said cap having a depending skirt,

a liner in said cap adapted to engage the rim around the mouth of said bottle to form a seal,

a first portion of said skirt being adapted to engage said rim on the side thereof remote from said bottle to hold said liner in sealed relation with said mouth,

said skirt having a second portion on the side of said first portion adapted to engage said rim when said seal is moved from sealing engagement with said rim whereby said cap is prevented from being blown from said bottle by gas under pressure in said bottle.

8. The cap recited in claim 7 wherein said skirt extends downward from said second portion, then outward, then upward, and terminates in an up wardly disposed portion,

said rim forming an opening portion for engagement by the thumb of an operator.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,373,434 4/1945 Tate 215-46 FOREIGN PATENTS 625,243 9/1961 Italy.

WILLIAM T. DIXSON, JR., Primary Examiner. 

